Consulting Services
For Beginning Farmers in NJ and Eastern PA
Starting a small, sustainable farm?
It takes a long time and a lot of resilience to master the art and science of farming. Learn not only from your own mistakes, but from others’ mistakes as well!
My consulting services are specialized for beginning farmers who have more passion than experience… because we all have to start somewhere. I know what it’s like to try to break into the world of agriculture from a non-farming background. If you are ready to jump in with both feet, make sure you have someone to guide you. You will be impressed how much an hour or two of consulting per week can set you in the right direction.
About the consultant, Devon A. Viola:
8 years of diverse hands-on experience in small-scale agriculture including market gardens, CSA, flower farms, nurseries, orchards, U-Pick, organic, permaculture, and conventional, new farms and multi-generational ones, ranging from ¼ acre to 100 acres. I have done all kinds of dirty work, and I have helped small farmers put systems in place, scale up, trim the fat, and decide what’s really important to them.
I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture, and I am the owner of a certified nursery located in Hightstown, NJ.
So why am I offering consulting instead of working on my own farm?
My passion for sustainable agriculture is broad and systems-based. I do love growing food, which is why I have been working on farms ever since I first discovered this passion in 2017. I also want to have an impact on the world of agriculture that extends beyond my own capacity to do manual labor.
That is to say: I want my work to support many other farmers. This has led me to pursue a diverse career. My current goals are to become an Organic Inspector as well as to take on new consulting clients.
Reach out today!
Send an email to [email protected]. Let’s talk about you, the farm you’re envisioning, and how you can make it a reality.
-Devon A. Viola
Ecological Landscape Design & Installation
Pollinator gardens – Food forests – Serving Central NJ – Mercer, Somerset, Middlesex, & Monmouth Counties
You don’t have to fight against nature to have a beautiful outdoor space!
Native plants are perfectly adapted to thrive in your back yard. They also provide exactly the habitat that native pollinators and birds need. By working with these systems that nature has already put in place, ecological landscaping turns your yard or garden into a healthy, functional, resilient ecosystem.
Unfortunately most landscapes still aren’t built that way. They drain time, water, and money, and they produce nothing but chores.
At Mad Garden, we design and install landscapes that work with nature, not against it. Our role is to make your property thrive with less effort and greater purpose.
Here’s how it works:
We listen. You share your vision and priorities.
We design. Together, we create a plan that makes the most of your space.
We plant. Your yard transforms into a thriving, low-maintenance natural ecosystem.
Mad Garden is a small boutique company. You will be working directly with the owner, Devon, during every step of the process. Reach out via email to [email protected] or via the contact page to request a free consultation.
Choosing ecological landscaping isn’t just a style preference. It’s a decision to stop pouring energy into a dead-end landscape that never gives back. Instead, you gain a space that grows richer every season. Spend time enjoying your garden instead of battling it! That is the future an ecological landscape creates.
Mad Garden designs, installs, and maintains native plant gardens of all kinds in Princeton, Plainsboro, Hamilton, West Windsor, Hightstown, Monroe Township, Freehold, South Brunswick, Hillsborough, and neighboring areas. Reach out to [email protected] today to start the shift toward a better ecosystem and a better life.
-Devon A. Viola
